Don’t Buy a Pig in a Poke
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "Don’t buy a pig in a poke" means don’t buy something without seeing or checking it first. It’s a country proverb warning folks not to get tricked.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Animals #Southern #FarmTalk #Proverbs
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'don’t buy a pig in a poke, all my life, it's a common one. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'don’t buy a pig in a poke, all my life, it's a common one. Pronunciation
[DOANT bye uh PIG in uh POHK]
Meaning & Usage
- Don’t purchase blindly (proverb)
Mae:
They’re selling it online but won’t send pictures.
They’re selling it online but won’t send pictures.
Earl:
Don’t buy a pig in a poke, honey - you’ll regret it.
Don’t buy a pig in a poke, honey - you’ll regret it.- Beware of hidden defects (figurative)
Mae:
That car’s cheap but looks shady.
That car’s cheap but looks shady.
Earl:
Yep. Don’t buy a pig in a poke.
Yep. Don’t buy a pig in a poke.variations: never buy a pig in a poke
★ This proverb draws from the old market trick of selling a "pig in a poke" (bag) but delivering something else inside. It’s still a perfect warning about online shopping or sight-unseen deals today. ★
Origin and Etymology
From medieval England, where a "poke" meant a bag. Unscrupulous sellers would substitute a cat or other small animal instead of a pig. Brought to the American South and Appalachia with settlers and firmly planted in rural speech as a proverb.
Usage Notes
Still widely used in the South and Appalachia as a cautionary saying. Recognized elsewhere, but its farm-market image gives it a distinctly old-time rural feel.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "don’t buy a pig in a poke." The "poke" means a sack or bag.
Most Popular
Latest Sayings
- Knock a Mud Hole in You and Walk It Dry
- Cuss Someone Like a Dog
- The Devil With...
- Squeezes a Nickel Till the Buffalo Hollers
- So Tight the Eagle Screams
- Let Me Tell You How the Cow Ate the Cabbage
- Fly Off the Handle
- He Thinks the Sun Comes Up Just to Hear Him Crow
- Pretty Is as Pretty Does
- Bleeding Like a Stuck Pig
About
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...Slang and folklore change from place to place - this is how I know it. Read the full disclaimer and terms of use →
© Hillbilly Slang | Original audio and content not for reproduction or AI training without permission. Keeping the Mountains Talking 'Til The Cows Come Home